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| coerced or forced abortions in America "You don't know what goes on behind closed doors."
–- mother who had an abusive husband and an unwanted abortion portraits of coercion flyer │ report on forced abortion in U.S. │ forced abortion fact sheet
top 10 reasons it's the unchoice │ teens at risk │ suicide crisis │ legislation why it matters Coercion often comes from all sides, personally and professionally ... especially and ironically in many of the "helping" professions. It may also involve a family, friends or even an employer who push for abortion, practice emotional, physical, practical or financial blackmail, or otherwise withhold essential support at the very time when a woman most needs honest answers and a helping hand.
Abortion endangers teens and all women who are now at risk of coercion. Coercion can escalate to violence. Women have been subjected to unthinkable abuses, torture and even death for resisting an unwanted abortion. Homicide is the leading killer of pregnant women.5
Women and others hurt by abortion are often at a loss for words to describe the experience. Words that do come up often are "silenced," "nightmare," "humiliating," "degraded," "dismissed," "herded like cattle," "part of me died," and, ironically, "I was never given a choice." coercion includes expert deception, negligence and/or personal pressure or even violence |
In their own words, women tell about their experiences of coercion:  “I screamed that I didn’t want the abortion.”
“They said I made the right decision, but I was never given a choice.”
“The nurse said this was not the time for questions.”
“My husband exploded in anger ... ‘Have an abortion or I’ll leave you.’ ”
“Our pastor assured us that abortion was ok.”
“The doctor leaned across his mahogany desk and snapped, ‘It’s not a baby!’ ”
“My parents locked me in the house and made the appointment.”
“No one told me there were places I could go for help.”
“The counselor drew a micro-dot ... I feel so betrayed.”
“It doesn’t look like you have much choice.”
“He destroyed our apartment ... he was killing me with his words.”
“My boss threatened to push me down the stairs if I didn’t abort.”
“They would just look down their noses at me for being pregnant.”
“The abortionist strapped me down and said, ‘Shut up and quit that yelling.’ ”
“All the people that mattered told me to abort. No one would help me.”
“Everything in me was yelling, ‘No! No! No!’” >> Portraits of Coercion
Many women face a "perfect storm" of coercive forces: disinformation, significant threats, expert deception or even blackmail and personal pressure that can escalate to violence (the #1 killer of pregnant women5) ... all working in concert at a time when they most need a helping hand. the UnChoice ...
“They said I made the right decision ... but I was never given a choice.” 64% felt pressured by others.1 Coercion can escalate to violence. Deceptive, inaccurate or incomplete information presented as fact by licensed professionals, health officials, clinic staffers, advisors and even religious counselors also acts coercively. Up to 83% of abortions are unwanted.2 The majority felt rushed and uncertain, yet 67% had no counseling before abortion.1 79% not informed about available alternatives.1 84% not given enough information to make an informed choice.1
coercion is common, traumatic ... and dangerous |
forced abortion in America Many women have been forced into unwanted abortions; others have been injured or killed for resisting. (See the Forced Abortion in America fact sheet and 22-page special report). The rhetoric of choice suggests no pressure, no desperation, no coercion ... personal or professional ... direct or indirect, such as that reflected in withholding support or even blackmail, ultimatums and threats. The pressure often comes "from all sides." Concealing relevant information or deceptive information presented as fact also acts coercively. 64% felt pressured by others. 2 Even though most felt rushed or uncertain, 67% received no counseling.2 84% were not given enough information to make an informed "choice." 2 79% received no information about alternatives.1 A former abortion clinic security guard testified before the Massachusetts Legislature that women were routinely threatened and abused by the boyfriends or husbands who brought them to the clinic.3
violent "choice": threats can escalate to violence or murder Coercion can escalate. Many pregnant women have been killed by partners trying to prevent the birth, and women are more likely to be attacked while pregnant.4 Murder is the leading cause of death among pregnant women.5 beyond the politics of abortion |
Compassionate Americans on all sides will want to know ... about these injustices and risks to women. People on all sides are ready to open the door to healing after decades of: Unwanted abortions, often the result of coercion and force from all sides, and deceptive or negligent counseling and medical practices. A teen population at risk from coercion, sexual molestation and physical and psychological injuries resulting from abortion Increased risks to all women, ranging from pregnancy-related discrimination and coercion to health risks and post-abortion trauma and death Domestic violence toward pregnant women, which can lead to homicide, the leading killer of pregnant women Post-abortion issues, including: grief trauma physical injury, including infertility 6-7 x higher suicide rates 3.5x higher risk of death in abortion's aftermath6
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citations 1. For information on these and other cases, see the special report, Forced Abortion in America. 2. VM Rue et. al., “Induced abortion and traumatic stress: A preliminary comparison of American and Russian women,” Medical Science Monitor 10(10): SR5-16 (2004). 3. Brian McQuarrie, “Guard, clinic at odds at abortion hearing,” Boston Globe, April 16, 1999. 4. Julie A. Gazmararian et al., “The Relationship Between Pregnancy Intendedness and Physical Violence in Mothers of Newborns,” Obstetrics & Gynecology, 85 :1031 (1995); Hortensia Amaro et al., “Violence During Pregnancy and Substance Use,” American Journal of Public Health, 80: 575 (1990); and J. McFarlane et al., “Abuse During Pregnancy and Femicide: Urgent Implications for Women’s Health,” Obstetrics & Gynecology, 100: 27, 27-36 (2002). 5. I.L. Horton and D. Cheng, “Enhanced Surveillance for Pregnancy-Associated Mortality-Maryland, 1993-1998,” JAMA 285(11): 1455-1459 (2001); see also J. Mcfarlane et. al., "Abuse During Pregnancy and Femicide: Urgent Implications for Women's Health," Obstetrics & Gynecology, 100: 27-36 (2002). 6. See our Research Booklet for more on the physical and psychological effects of abortion. |
